So how did these massive, global institutions pull it off? Many of this year's Transformers lead innovative strategies that came to the rescue for the world's biggest banks.In traditional investment banking, UBS' head of investment bank technology, Zoe Evans, is leading a new way of working through the bank's "hybrid pod" model — a cross-functional business model designed to enhance collaboration.
"The most significant change that is going to shape the future of the investment bank...is the way our bank is transforming to become truly digital," she said. "To do this we had to change the way we work." "Evolution is happening all around us, and in finance, the last 40 years has been unprecedented in that respect," Nzelu said. "Trading has evolved at warp speed since the 1980s and my job is to form a path to the future of trading." At Citigroup, Alaa Saeed is also working to electronify fixed income trading.
Saeed said his biggest challenge—and opportunity—is "dealing with the increasing complexity associated with the fragmentation of FX liquidity, and the proliferation of connectivity providers and platforms."